Cellulose Acetate–Cellulose Nanowhisker Nanocomposite Immobilized with a DCDHF-Hydrazone Chromophore toward a Smart Test Strip for Colorimetric Detection of Diethyl Chlorophosphate as a Nerve Agent Mimic

[Image: see text] Exposure to nerve agents, which are usually colorless and odorless gases, may cause organ failure, paralysis, or even quick death. Diethyl chlorophosphate (DCP) has been recognized as one of the most well-known chemical warfare nerve agent mimics. In the current study, we introduce a simple strategy for the development of a portable and reversible nanocomposite-based microporous strip for naked-eye detection of DCP within a few seconds. A dicyanomethylenedihydrofuran hydrazone (DCDHF-H) chromophore was synthesized by an easy azo-coupling reaction and encapsulated in situ during the preparation of cellulose acetate/cellulose nanowhisker/hydrazone (CA-CNW-H) nanocomposites. These CA-CNW-H nanocomposites displayed a bathochromic shift in the absorption intensity of about 142 nm from 438 to 580 nm with the increase of the DCP concentration. The present CA-CNW-H sensor strip displayed a detection limit for DCP ranging from 25 to 200 ppm. The color change of CA-CNW-H from yellow to purple due to exposure to DCP was detected by CIE Lab analysis. The morphology, fibrous crystallinity, thermal stability, and mechanical properties of the prepared CA-CNW-H sensor strips were investigated.